Tips after having a filling...
After fixing a tooth by placing a filling, soreness and sensitivity can occur, this may last for hours or even days after the placement of a filling. Easy tasks such as eating and drinking can become uncomfortable.
Listed below are a few tips to reduce discomfort subsequent to the placement of a filling.
- Chew slowly and bite lightly: If possible chew on the opposite side of the mouth to the filling. Chewing requires force and pushes the teeth to take on pressure from the food being consumed. Chewing slowly and with your mouth closed can help avoid pressure pain and sensitivity from air entering the mouth on biting.
- Avoid chewy and sticky foods: Chewy and sticky foods tend to get stuck in the fissures of the teeth; fillings which take a prolonged period of time to set and harden can also become dislodged if sticky foods get trapped on the top of the filling.
- Avoid hot or cold drinks: changes in temperature can to trigger pain in sensitive teeth which have just had fillings placed. Avoid hot and cold drinks especially those containing ice.
- Avoid sweet foods: sugary foods and soft drinks contain acid which can trigger additional sensitivity. The sugars and acids also contain harmful bacteria which can attack the surrounding surface of the filling and cause further decay to occur underneath or around the edges.
- Avoid hard foods: foods such as nuts, lollies, or ice can place unnecessary pressure on the teeth.
It is important to know that if pain persists over a prolonged period of time, you should contact your dental practice to review the filling and provide you with additional solutions on how to manage the tooth. Occasionally adjustment of the tooth is required if the filling is slightly too high and impacting the bite!
For further information on this topic refer to:
http://www.colgate.com/en/us/oc/oral-health/procedures/fillings/article/...
